Brake mechanism



May 11, 1937- s. F. ARBUCKLE BRAKE MECHANISM vFiled March 1, 1933 2 sheets-51mmv 1 ATTORNEYS.

May `1l; 1937* s. F. ARBUCKLE BRAKE MECHANI SM Filed March l, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIN Il 'III l lill.

97 ,m 9J sa S6 [nlmlulu-w- 999 A INVENTOR Sav/:fel E' rz/c/I'Ze.

n ATTORNEYS Patented May 11, 1937 PATENT OFFICE BRAKE MECHANISM f Samuel F. Arbuckle, Highland `Parln'lllich., as-

`Signor to S. F. Arbuckle Corporation, a cor poration of Delaware Application March 1, 1933, Serial :N'o. 659,149` l v Claims.

The invention relates to brake mechanisms and it has particular relation to a brake mechanism for motor vehicles. x

In certain respects the inventionis'related to 5 those embodied in the co-pending applications for patent of Arbuckle, et al. Serial No. 266,551, filed April 2, 1928, Arbuckle Serial No. 648,510, filed December 22, 1932,`and the' patent to Arbuckle No. 1,834,368. Y i o.

l0 One object of the invention is toprovide a `brake mechanism forvehicles operated byA fluid pressure responsive means controllable by a foot pedal or the like, wherein an operator manipulating the foot pedal can determine and govern the brake applying force ofthe uid pressure responsive means through the sense of feel during manipulation of the pedal. ;Vy

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake mechanism having `the above operating 2O characteristics wherein the brake is actuated by vacuum controlled fluid `pressure responsive means. f o f t Another object of the inventionis to provide a brake mechanism operated by uid pressure `responsive means controllable by a foot pedal or the like, wherein after a predetermined application of the brake, a further increment of movement of the pedal and fluid pressure responsive means is effective to increase the operative force of the latter. o

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake mechanism operated `by iiuid pressure `re,- sponsive means vcontrollable by a foot pedal or the like, wherein during a preliminary movement of the pedal, the fluid pressure responsive means applies the brakes, and then upon a further movement of the pedal by the operator, the operative force of the fluid pressure is increased. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a D brake mechanism operated by fiuidpressure responsive means Vcontrollable by a foot pedal or the like, wherein during a portion of the movement of the pedal by. the operator, such movement is resisted by an increasing resistance readi- 5 1y noticeable by the operator manipulatingythe pedal, which in turn varies the operativeforce of the fluid pressure. Y I

Another object of the invention is to provide a more eiicient fluidA pressure operated vehicle 0 brake and particularly a brake actuated by vacuum created in the motor of the vehicle.

Other" objects of the invention will be apparent from `the following description relating to the drawings and from the claims hereinafter` set 55 forth (Cl. 188--152Y For a better understanding of the: invention reference may be` had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of `the specication wherein:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating a brake mechanismeonstructed according to one form of theinvention,` with the mechanism in its inoperative condition. o ,o Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the mechanism after initial `application of the brakes. y v f 10 Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the mechanism after a further application of the brakes.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a brake mechanism constructed according to another form of the invention. i 15 Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of `a device for adjustably limitingthe degree of vacuumwhich maybe employed, andwhich is preferably mounted on the instrument board of the motor vehicle. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a valve constructed according to another form of the invention, which may be used in the vacuum line for varying the degree of vacuum during application of the brakes.

Referring to the gures,`the motor of a vehicle isindicated at I0, the intake manifold thereon at I I, and a suctionor vacuum line at` I3.' A check valve I4 provided in the suction line `I3 may be of any conventional character, and this valve serves to maintain the suction or degree of vacuum in 30 the line beyond the valve at a higher average than would be obtained if the line were directly in communication with the manifold and the check valve were not provided. Particularly in view of the fact that an increase inthe speed of the 35 motor up to a certain point also increases the degree of vacuum in the manifold but aftera certain speed is obtained, the degree of vacuum becomes less, use of `the check valve is advantageous in that the degree of `vacuum obtained in the line beyond the valve may be maintained at a higher level. l

The line I3 communicates with a valve casing .I5 having a slide valve IB therein that is normally urged upwardly by a spring Il. rThis valve has a recess I8 in one side adapted to connect the line I3 operatively with another line I9 upon movement of the valve downwardly. When the valve is in its upper position line I3 is closed while line I9 communicateswith the atmosphere through 50 the opening I8 and an opening 20 in the casing. The casing I5 and valve IB therein are mounted on a foot pedal 22 connected to a crossu rod 23 which may have its ends rrotatably mounted in oppositesidesk of the vehicle frame. The upper end of the pedal terminates in a plate 24 pivotally mounted thereon as indicated at 25 and this plate is secured by means of a-rod 26 to the slide valve I6. Thus by pressing on the plate 24 and moving it counter-clockwise about the pivot 25, the slide valve I6 may be moved downwardly and upon release of the plate the spring I1 will return the valve and plate to their positions shown in Fig. 1.

An arm 21 rigidly associated with the rod 23 for movement with the pedal 22 is connected at its free end by means of a rod 28 to a rocker arm 29. The rocker arm 29 intermediate its ends, is pivotally connected as indicated at 3I, to a rod 32 that in turn is pivotally connected as indicated at 33 to a rocker arml 36 which is rigidly mounted on a rotatable cross rod 35.

The lower end of the rocker arm 34 is pivotally connected as indicated at 31 to a rod 38 that in turn is operatively connected to brake operating means 39 for one of the rear wheels of the vehicle. The upper end of the rocker arm 34 is pivotally connected to the brake of one of the front wheels by a rod d6. It should be understood that the cross rod 35 may have another rocker arm similar to armd andA that similar means may be connected thereto for operating the brakes on the other wheels.

The upper end of rocker arm 29 is apertured and a bolt i2 passing through a stationary member 53, passes through the aperture in the arm and through a helical spring (ifi. A nut 45 on the threadedV end of the bolt adjustably maintains the spring in a state of compression, and it is apparent that by adjusting the nut the compression of the spring may be varied. Attention is 'directed to the fact that the face of arm 29 'adjacent the supporting member 3 is rounded as Aindicated atY 56 so that thearm may fulcrum about its upper end within'limits without undesirable interference'such as might be present if a at face were provided. It may be noted also that the opening in the upper end of arm 29 is larger than the bolt ft2 to permit limited fulcruming movement of the arm.

A bell crank 5D pivotally mounted as indicated at 5i, has one arm portion extending down along the arm 29 and is provided with' a lip 52 abutting that face of the arm opposite the rounded face 46. The opposite armof the bell crank is aper- -tured as indicated at 53V and va valvestem 54 passing through such aperture has a helical spring 55v thereon above thearm and a nut 56 for adjustably compressing the spring against the arm. The lower end of the valve stem terminates in a valve disc 51 adapted to close an opening 58 in a passageway 59 and to separate it from communication with the atmosphere. `Thevsuction or vacuum line I9 communicates with kthe passageway 59 and the latter .communicates with a line 6D in turn communicating with one side of a casing comprising part of a iluid pressure responsive device 6| and which may include a diaphragm 62. A rod 63 connected to the diaphragm at its center slidably passes through'the casingand is`connected at its free end and in a pivotal manner as indicated at 64,'to an arm 65also mounted on rod 23 and movable with the foot pedal and arm 21. It will be understood that the space at the left side of the diaphragm Will be in communication with the` atmosphere and asmall hole 2| inthe casing of device 6I may be provided for this purpose.

The line I9 also communicates with aline 66 extending to a manual control'61 mounted on the instrument board of the vehicle, and this control briefly, and as shown by Fig. 5, includes a valve stem 66 for closing and uncovering an opening 69 that may communicate with an opening 10 to the atmosphere. The valve stem 66 slidably passes through the end wall 1I of a cylindrical sleeve 12 and within the sleeve a helical spring surrounds the valve stem and is maintained under compression against the end wall 1I by nut adjustment means 14 threaded on the end of the stem. The outer end of the sleeve 12 is threaded into a cylindrical portion of a handle 15 mounted on the instrument board and by turning the handle it is apparent that the sleeve may bev moved inwardly or outwardly thus varying the compression of spring 13. A spring 16 disposed around the sleeve 12 and abutting stationary members on the instrument I board at one end and a shoulder on the end wall 1I of the sleeve at its other end, normally urges the sleeve inwardly so that it will move when the handle is so turned to move the sleeve in this direction. Thus by turning the handle the compression of spring 13 may be varied and the resistance to opening of the valve by creation of vacuum in the line 66 may be Varied. For example, if the vacuum reaches a certain point the valve may open and communicate the line with the atmosphere and the degree of vacuum at which the valve will open thus may be determined by turning the handle and adjusting thecompression of spring 13. This manual control per se is embodied in applications for patent already led as mentioned previously.

Now referring to Fig. 1 in general, it is apparent that the manual control on theinstrument board may be used to limit the degree of vacuum that Vmay be vobtained in the suction system so as to permit an adjustment to suit varying conditions. It is valso apparent that the tension on springl 55 normally holding valve 51 closed may be varied and that the tension on spring H may be varied.

In operating the brake, pressure is applied lightly to the plate M thus opening the valve I6 and communicating the suction line I3 with the line I9. Initially valve 51 will be closed and hence suction will be created at the right side of the diaphragm 62 and, owing to the atmospheric pressure on the opposite side of the'diaphragm, thev pedal will be moved downwardly and simultaneously 4arms 21 and 65 will be turned therewith. This vwill'result in a movement of rod 28 to the left and initially a fulcruming of arm 29 about its upper end as the compression of spring 44- is adjusted suiciently to maintain the upper end of the arm against the stationary member 43 duringthis initiafl action of the uid pressure responsive device. This fulcruming movement of arm 29 will `cause an initial application of the brakes through rod 32turning the rocker arm 34, until the resistance of the brakes to further application balances the force of the fluid pressure responsive means.

Upon this initial application of the brake by the suction in the system, valve 51 `will open after a certain degree of vacuum is obtained and close if the degree of vacuum substantially decreases. The parts now being arranged as shown by Fig. 2, further movement of the pedal down- Wardly by the operator in conjunction with the action of the fluid pressure device will move arm 29 farther but, owing to the resistance to further application of the brakes, arm 29 instead of fulcruming about its upper end, begins to fulbell crank 50 is being turned and ment about the pivot 3| is shown by Fig. `3 and it will be appreciated that this will cause an increased compression of spring 44' as well as a vturning of bell crank 50. `During this further movement ofthe upedal an increase in application of the Abrakes will occur asvarm 29 will move slightly to the left as it fulcrums about the pivot `3| and compresses spring, 44. Simultaneously with this increasing compression of the` spring, e this increases the compression of spring 55,` thus causing the valve 51 to be more strongly seated. This necessarily will allow an increase in the vacuum in the system `as valve 51cannot open until a higher degree of vacuum is obtaine f i When the degree of vacuum increases, the operative forceofV the fluid pressure responsive device will increaseuntil the foot pedal pressure is not needed A`to hold the `partsin the new positions eected by pushing of the pedal.l If the pedal were pushed harder, the armwoiild be moved further and the increase in brake application and 'compression of springs 44` and 55 would,be"greater,`thereby` causing a greater degree of 'vacuum to be'r obtained. 'Ihis greater degreeof vacuum would causethe operative force of the fluid pressure responsive means to4 lbe greater but it will also be appreciated that the resistance to further compression of spring `44 and further application of the brakes would be greater. Accordingly, when `the pedal is pushed, the result is an increased compression of spring 44, increase in brake applicatioiiand hence increase infresistance to further brake application, and an increase in the operative force of the` fluid pressure responsive device until the ,foot pedal pressure is not needed to new positions.

` If thepedal is again pushed, greaterpressure wlllube required to compress spring 44 and'further apply the brakes as occurs during the further 'compression of the spring, and while the force of the fluid l pressure responsive device operates in conjunction with pushing `of the pedalLthel operator pushes the 4pedal against an increased resistance andfeels the latter. Itmight be noted' that this increased resistance to pushng of the pedal is greater than theresistance to -the` first pushing of the pedal ldescribed previouslyffAfter such second pushing of the pedal and the increase in vacuum is effected, the `increased operative force of the fluid pressure responsive `means renders the foot `pedal pressure unnecessary.

"Movement vof the foot pedal by increments in this manner may be effected to apply the brakes more and more forcefully. Each time the pedal is pushed, however, there is a greater resistance to its movement by the foot and `it follows vthat the operator can feel the force of brake application by the increasing resistance to movement of the pedal although the resistance is not undesirably great owing to the assistance of the fluid pressure responsive device. Normally, the pedal may be pushed down more rapidly `and while increasing application of the brakes will be in increments as described, coinciding with pushing ofthe pedal by increments, the actions will follow so closely one after the other that the operator hOId the parts in their `may be conscious only of an increasing resistance to movement of the pedal by the foot.

At any time, however, the operator need only to` release plate 24 on the pedal, to release the brakes.

The manual control on theinstrument board enables limiting any degree of vacuum to be obtained so as to positively limit the operative force ofthe fluid pressure responsive means and, while the control limits thedegree of vacuum which may be obtained in the system, this control voi course does not prevent further manual operation of the pedal after the manual control valve opens although the operative force of the fluid pressure responsive device will not increase further. Regardless of the vacuum operation of the brakes, the operator of the vehicle at all times is in control of the brakesby manual manipulation of the pedal.

The construction shownby Fig. 4 will obtain substantially the same results. In this construction the rod 28 is connected to a plate 88 slidably mounted on a pair of rods `8l and 82 secured to a similar plate 83. The plate ,80 is urged towards the plate 83 by helical springs 84 mounted on the ends of `rods 8| and82 projecting beyond plate 88 and which are adjustably compressed thereagainst by nuts 85 on the outer ends of the rods. Between the plates 80 and 83 a fluid bellows 86 is provided, which is fastened at opposite endsto both plates.` o Av rod 81 is connected to plate 83 and pivotally 4to a rocker arm 88 mounted on a cross rod 89 other end is pivotally connected as indicated at l 92 to a brake operating rod 93 connected to one of the front brakes. i It will be understood that the rod 89 may have another rocker arm similar to arm 88 which may be connected to the brakes of the other wheels in a. similar fashion.

The bellows 86 is connected by a fluid line 94 to a smaller bellows 95 having one end indicated at 96 rigidly secured to a stationary member 91. The oppositeend of thebellows 95 is connected by means of a rod 98 `to a bell crank 99 having an arm I 00 associatedl with the valve stem 54 previously described. In operation of this arrangement,initial movement of the plate 24 on the foot pedal merely' opens the valve IB so that the brakes initially willbe applied by the fluid pressure responsive means. Action of the fluid pressure responsive means will depress the pedal and pull the plate 88 to `theleft and this plate through the action ofsprings 84 and rods 8l and 82 will pull the plate 83 to the left to apply the brakes initially. `This will occur without any noticeable increase in compression `of springs 84 and expansion of thebellows At this time the fluid pressure responsive meansl will act until further application of the brakes suficiently resists further movement of plate 83 and since springs 84 will be so adjusted that further separation of plates 80 and 83 by the initial action of the fluid pressure responsive means Will be sufficiently resistedby the springs, the system will reach a point of equilibrium.

Now if the operator pushes the pedal, this in crease in force will apply the brakes still further and also compress springs '84, although the foot pedal pressure needed to do .this is not undesirably great owing tothe assistance of the fluid pressure responsive device. This` compression p of the springs causes expansion of the large bellows 86 'and since the bellows 86, line` 94 and bellows 95 comprise a closed fluid system, the smaller bellows 95 will collapse accordingly. This causes a movement of bell crank 99, compression of spring 55, an increase in the degree of vacuum in the system and accordingly an increase in the operative force of the fluid pressure responsive device. The increase in force of the latter renders the vfoot pedal pressure unnecessary to hold the parts in their new positions. Additional pushing of the pedal will cause additional application of the brakes and increase in the operative force ofthe luid pressure responsive device until the pressure on the pedal again is not needed or balanced. Each further push on the pedal is increasingly resistediowing to the increasing resistance of the springs to compression and accordingly the operator is conscious of the increasing force of brake application in the same manner as described with respect to the rst mechanism described.

The various spring adjustments will permit use of either mechanism in such manner that an increase in the degree of vacuum and increase in the operative force of the fluid pressure responsive device may be insuflcient to render pressure on the pedal unnecessary, or in other Words, the increase in the operative force of the fluid pressure responsive device may not be as great or sufficient to balance as the force of the pedal pressure. Thus during operation of the mechanism under these conditions, the operator Would'push the pedal (after initial application by tilting plate 2li) and after the resulting increase in degree of vacuum, he still would have to maintain pressure on the pedal to hold the parts in their new positions.` Then upon furtherpushing of the pedal, ra further pressure would be required to increase the degree of vacuum, and after this occurred, he would have to hold the pedal in place with a pressure still greater than that which is required tohold the pedal in place Vafter the rst push. Thus in-I creasing pressures would be required to'move the pedal,'as determined. by the increase in resistance to compression of springs 35 and the increasing diierential between the foot pedal pressure and increase in the operative force of the uid pressure responsive device. l

The springs also could. be so adjusted that after initial application of the brakes by tilting plate 24, a push on the pedal would cause such increase in degree of vacuum in the system that the operative force ofthe fluid pressure responsive device would be so increased that the foot pedal pressure would not only be balanced, but that a further movement thereof would occur. This further movement would automatically increase the degree of vacuum in the system in the same manner that a further push on the pedal would effect it, and vthen the uid pressure responsive device would act to apply the brakes more forcefully and again increase the movement of the pedal. In this manner, the force would build up automatically upon applying initialpressure to the pedal. l lin the event the operator continued to push the pedal with foot pressure, this'building up of the force would still further be accentuated. The operator however need only remove the foot at any time to release the brake.

Fig. 6 illustratesanother type of valve construction that may be employed in place of the valve heretofore described. 1n this construction a two part housing |05 is provided and a diaphragm. |06 extends transversely of the housing between the parts thereof. The diaphragm is connected to a pin |01 slidably projecting through one side of the housing and this pin extends through arm 50, helical spring and beyond the spring a nut |08 is provided for adjustably compressing the spring.v The opposite end of pin |01 and at the opposite side of the diaphragm |06, isl tapered as indicated at |09 and is adapted to close a valve opening ||0, in the opposite side of the housing. This opening is in communication with line 60, and line I9 may communicate with this side of the housing through an opening therein. Thus when valve |09 is seated, lines |9 and 60 are disconnected and when the valve is raised, they. are in communication with each other. When this type of valve is employed, further compression of spring 55 will naturally cause the valve |09 to remain open until a higher degree of vacuum is obtained when the relatively high atmospheric pressure acting against the diaphragm then will close the valve. Instead of allowing atmospheric air to enter the system in the manner described with respect to Fig. 1, in the present construction, the valve is closed to separate line from line I9. An advantage of this construction is that air is not allowed to enter that part of the system between the valve and the fluid pressure responsive means except upon releasing plate 24 which will open line I9 to the atmosphere and then atmospheric pressure below the diaphragm will naturally balance both sides of the diaphragm and allow the spring to open the valve.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that a brake system has been provided which will enable the operator of the brakes to feel the force of application and, while this feel may be actually proportionate to the force with which thebrakes are applied, it will enable him to feel through the pedal the amount the brakes arev being applied. This is of considerable importance in fluid pressure operated brakes where ordinarilyoperation A depends upon opening a valve. If all the operator does is open a valve graduallyit is difcult to appreciate the force with which the brakes are being applied but if movement of the pedal 4is increasingly resisted in a very noticeable manner which can be felt through the foot, thevoperator at all times will realize the force vof brake application.

Although more than one form of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it rWill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modicationsrnay be made Without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

l. A brakeV mechanism comprising a brake, a rocker arm, a fixed meansand a yieldable means engageable witha portion of said rocker arm with the yieldable means tending to urge said portion of the rocker arm into contact with the fixed means, fluid pressure responsive means for actuating the brake, manually controlled means for displacing said portion of the rocker arm in a direction away from said xed means with the yieldable means increasingly resisting increased displacement of said portion of the rocker arm away from said fixed means, and means responsive to the displacement of said portion of the rocker arm away from said fixed means for varying the operative force of the fluid pressure responsive means.

2. A brake mechanism comprising a brake, manual actuating means including a rocker arm for actuating the brake, a fixed means and a yieldable means both engageable with a portion of said rocker arm with the yieldable means in stressed condition and urging said portion of the rocker arm into contact with said xed means upon initial movement of said actuating means but yieldably opposing displacement oi said portion of the rocker arm in a direction away from said fixed meansupon further movement of said actuating means, fluid pressure responsive means for actuating the brake, and means governed by the displacement of said portion of the rocker arm away from said fixed means for varying the operative force of the fluid pressure responsive means.

3. A brake mechanism comprising a brake, fluid pressure means, means connecting the uid pressure means to the brake and including a movable part, a xed abutment means contacting one side of said movable part when said brake is in unapplied condition, and a resilient means supported by said fixed abutment means and contacting the opposite side of said movable part, means for conditioning said resilient means to exert a predetermined force upon said movable part when the latter contacts the fixed abutment means, said resilient means and said movable part being so arranged that movement of said part away from said fixed abutment means causes an increase in the force exerted by the resilient means on said movable part, manually controlled means for displacing said movable part. against the force exerted by said resilient means, and means governed by such displacement of said movable part and proportional thereto for correspondingly varying the operative force exerted by the fluid pressure means. g

4. A brake mechanism comprising a brake, man ual actuating means including a rocker arm for actuating the brake, a fixed means, a resilient means interposed in stressed condition between `said fixed means and a portion of said rocker arm and so arranged as to be further stressed upon movement of said portion of the rocker arm relative to said fixed means, fluid pressure responsive means Afor actuating the brake, and means governed by movement of said portion of the rocker arm relative to said xed means and proportional to the extent of such movement varying the operative force which thefluid pressure responsive means can exert in applying said brake.

5. A brake mechanism comprising a brake,man ual actuating means including a rocker arm for actuating the brake, a fixed means, an element adjustably mounted on said fixed means, a resilient means interposed between said adjustable element and a portion of the rocker arm and ar ranged in stressed condition in accordance with the position of adjustmentlof said adjustable element on said fixed means to apply a predetermined force on said portion of the rocker arm, said resilient means and rocker arm being so arranged that movement of the latter to actuatc said brake to applied condition increasesithe force applied bythe resilient means to said portion of the rocker arm, iiuid pressure responsive means for actuating the brake, and means responsive to that movement of said portion of the rocker arm which causes an increase in the force applied by said resilient means to the rocker arm for increasing the operative force which the fluid pressure responsive means can exert in applying said brake.

SAMUEL F. ARBUCKLE. 

